Looking back at Virginia Tech’s Sugar Bowl loss to Michigan: Notes and quotes from the post-game
Where to start? How about a link to my very-rushed game story on deadline. You can read it here.
I’m also planning a live chat Wednesday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. I’ll have a link up tomorrow morning. I hope you can be there to discuss the game.
* Plenty to talk about in the game, but there’s some news to report first. Cornerback Jayron Hosley is going pro. He told reporters in the locker room after the game. I got there a touch late to get Hosley but colleague Mark Giannotto of the Washington Post reports Hosley said he was told by the NFL draft advisory board that he’d be a first- or second-round selection. “It’s gonna be tough walking away but I got to do what I got to do,” Hosley said. “I think I handled my business pretty well.”
* Running back David Wilson said he will make his NFL decision known soon but was not prepared to say anything to reporters after the game.
* Now to the game. Head coach Frank Beamer summed up the team’s feeling with this quote: “I’m about half sick right now.”
* Let’s work our way backward. Senior kicker Justin Myer‘s 37-yard field goal in overtime sailed wide right, a tough way for things to finish, considering everything Myer did to get the Hokies there. The kickoff specialist, who moved up the depth chart after Cody Journell‘s arrest for felony breaking and entering Dec. 22 and Tyler Weiss‘ curfew issue the first night in New Orleans, made field goals of 37, 43, 36 and 25 yards, tying for the second-most field goals in Sugar Bowl history. But he had the overtime miss, which sailed wide right. “I just pushed it,” he said. “I mean, initially I thought I hit it good, but when I pulled my head up it was just one of those things that didn’t go the way I wanted it to.”
* Quarterback Logan Thomas hadn’t had a chance to talk to Myer immediately after the game but told reporters what he’ll tell him: “Without you we wouldn’t even have been in that position in the first place.” Myer was pretty dejected afterward, but he stayed and answered all questions from reporters in a very stand-up move. “It sucks right now, but eventually I’ll get over it,” he said. Beamer on Myer: “I told him he did a heck of a job.”
* Receiver Danny Coale summed up Myer’s contributions well. “He played awesome,” Coale said. “He gave us the points that we had. He put us in position to win at the end. It shouldn’t have come down to a field goal, and I absolutely don’t agree that it did come down to a field goal. The messed up punt. The missed opportunities. The penalties. That’s what led it to be a close game.”
* Now, the most-talked about play of the overtime: Coale’s diving catch/non-catch in the corner of the end zone. First of all, a very athletic play by a senior in his last college game. Coale snagged it with one hand, pulled it close and came down with his elbow/shoulder very close to the white line. Originally ruled a touchdown by officials, it was overturned, although I don’t believe the officials said why at the time, just that it was incomplete. Here’s the replay. You make the call. “Danny’s play is so close,” Beamer said. “And it seemed like there was just quite a few of those there tonight, so close but just didn’t quite have it go our way.”
* Thomas thought it was a great catch. “From the two angles we saw, I guess we thought it was a touchdown,” Thomas said. “And we couldn’t see any other way, because inconclusive evidence or whatever it was, but I guess the official saw something. So, I mean, it’s tough. But just to know that we were that close.” Wilson, as you’d expect, had an opinion on the play: “I don’t think there was clear evidence to reverse the call.”
* Coale thought that since it was ruled a touchdown on the field, it’d be hard to overturn. “They saw some things and overturned it,” he said. “It’s in the ref’s hands. What can you do?” Coale, it should be noted, had eight catches for 117 yards. How does he reconcile the non-catch be the last play of his career? “It’s awful,” he said. “I’ve been part of some close games, some wacky ones, some bizarre ones, but for this one to be my last one to go down like that, to come up short is hard.”
* Now for some stats that will drive Virginia Tech fans crazy looking back at this loss. The Hokies out-gained the Wolverines 372-179. They held Denard Robinson to 13 yards on 13 carries, his lowest total as a starter. They held him to 9-for-21 passing, intercepting him once. They held running back Fitzgerald Toussaint to 25 rushing yards. They held Michigan to 4 of 12 on third downs. They had a 36:48 to 23:10 advantage in time of possession. And they lost. The entire game was a stunning statistical oddity. “This is probably the most hurt I’ve ever been after a game because I really put my heart into it,” defensive end James Gayle said. “But, it sucks to lose like this.”
* The outcome occurred because of a litany of mistakes, penalties and baffling play-calls throughout by the Hokies. Here’s but a few of them:
- Virginia Tech went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Michigan 4 in the second quarter, leading 6-0. Thomas got stuffed on a sneak, a call I don’t think Hokies had a problem with considering how well Thomas runs in those situations. It still killed momentum.
- James Hopper was called for a roughing the punter penalty on the ensuing Michigan drive, keeping things alive for Robinson to throw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Junior Hemingway on a pass safety Eddie Whitley whiffed on going for the pick.
- Tony Gregory fumbled the kickoff after that in the final minute of the first half. He apparently was already scheduled for ACL surgery after the season and was in sweats for the second half of the game, making one wonder why he was out there in the first place.
- After Thomas threw a bad pick, Hosley got called for pass interference to negate an interception of his own. “I think I was in position,” Hosley said. “I was looking back for the ball, we both were looking back for the ball. He happened to fall and I got a pick. I guess it is what it is. I’m not mad but I thought they were big plays. The refs thought otherwise.”
- The fake punt by Coale near the end. Virginia Tech had the ball near midfield. It was fourth-and-1 with the game tied at 17. The Hokies called for a punt, but Coale rolled right in a rugby style kick before attempting to turn upfield with a run. Michigan stuffed it immediately. “It was an option: run or kick,” Beamer said. “I thought it was good, it was a short, it was a yard. And if they dropped off, had a little seam, we were going to go for the first. If not, we’re going to kick it and try and pin them down deep. So we had that option going. And their guy did a nice job. He looked like he was going to go outside and all of a sudden jumped back in underneath and got us.” Virginia Tech doesn’t do a lot of rugby-style punting, but Beamer said the Hokies have worked on it the last three weeks. “If it’s going to be less than 5 [yards], we really planned to do that,” he said.
- More on that from Coale: “If there was an opening I could run it; if there was pressure in my face I should punt it, and I should have punted it. I thought I could get 1 yard. Then I thought I saw an opening, but it closed quickly. I should have punted it. It was my fault. That wasn’t coach Beamer’s fault at all. That was my fault.”
* Virginia Tech had some legitimate gripes with a few calls. Obviously, the touchdown catch that wasn’t by Coale in overtime will be long debated, but there were a few others:
- On Michigan’s fake field goal just before halftime. It appeared kicker Brendan Gibbons took a step forward before the kick. “I moved a little bit,” he said. “Not really. But it’s kind of like my false step approach.”
- Hosley’s two interceptions-that-weren’t were very close. The first was overturned when officials say the ball hit the ground. “I believe I caught that ball,” he said. “They didn’t show the replay but I believe I caught it. I guess the ref seen otherwise. ” The second, as mentioned before, Hosley thought was a questionable pass interference call.
- Wilson believes he was not down on a fourth-quarter run right before the Coale fake punt. Officials ruled he was down on a carry for zero yards, but he kept going, thinking his knee hadn’t touched. The entire Hokies sideline seemed to agree.
- Wilson, who I didn’t have a chance to talk to except for something brief about his NFL decision, but is always one to speak his mind, didn’t seem pleased with the officiating.
* Virginia Tech had red zone issues all night. The Hokies scored on four out of five trips inside Michigan’s 20, but three of them were field goals. They stalled near the goal line, not breaking a 95-minute, 22-second touchdown drought that dated back to the first quarter of the Clemson loss in the ACC title game until Thomas scored on a 1-yard sneak. “They did a great job defending us,” Thomas said. “Just couldn’t pick up the short yardage when we needed to.”
* That said, Thomas still thinks it was more Virginia Tech not executing than anything: “They weren’t stopping us. We were stopping ourselves.”
* A couple records fell. Thomas, who accounted for 267 yards Tuesday, finished with 3,482 yards of offense this year, breaking Tyrod Taylor‘s record of 3,402 set last year. He also became the second player in Virginia Tech history to top the 3,000-yard mark in a season, joining Don Strock in 1972. Thomas finished with 3,013 passing yards, second to Strock’s 3,243.
* Wilson, meanwhile, darted past Ryan Williams‘ single-season school rushing record of 1,655 yards. Wilson had 82 in the game, giving him 1,709 for the year. He accomplished the feat in 14 games. Williams only had 13 games in 2009. “The credit goes to everybody, not just me,” Wilson said.
* Michigan’s Junior Hemingway was named the Most Outstanding Player. He had two catches for 63 yards. Both went for touchdowns, making him the first receiver since Virginia Tech’s Josh Morgan in 2005 to haul in two touchdown catches in the Sugar Bowl.
* The ACC fell to 2-12 in BCS games. Beamer was hoping to represent the league better as its first at-large pick. “Well, we didn’t get a win,” he said. “We need wins. And, again, it wasn’t because of lack of effort by these guys. It wasn’t because we didn’t prepare. I thought we worked hard for this game. The kids made great preparation. … We haven’t done as well as we want to in these BCS games. But you give Michigan credit. I mean, they hung in there and battled and hung on, and they certainly never slowed down.”
January 4, 2012 - 2:39 AM
The Hokies should be proud they outplayed Michigan and it’s a win in my book. I thought the play in question was a catch from what I see there just isn’t enough evidence to overturn the call on the field.
I’m glad someone noted the mystery downing of Wilson on that 2nd and 5 run. ESPN never showed a replay of the play after the announcer called it a first down–I heard a whistle, and ran it back on my tv several times, but could not see him being downed.
The five minutes before the end of the half were the most bizarre anti-VT minutes of football. From the 3rd and 3 on the Michigan 6 to the field goal to end the half, the string of weird and/or misguided plays boggles the mind.
And, the fake punt was absolutely the wrong call. Michigan had one drive all night, aided by a roughing the kicker penalty and the equivalent of a Hail Mary. Why even think of giving them the ball near midfield?
This is not the first game where the OFFENSIVE SIDE of the ball has cost this team a game that should have been an easy blow out. Virginia Tech was the more talented team in every way and lost this game because of the ignorance of the head coach and the outright stupidity of the offensive play-calling. The very fact that this has been going on for 10 years now is reason enough for Beamer to make the necessary changes to the offensive side of the ball and if he doesn’t, he should be terminated on the spot.
The players can’t be faulted for this game. Sure, there were occasional lapses, but those guys played their heart out, especially the defense. The offensive and special teams coaching were the difference.
Hokie fans need to face the facts – Frank Beamer is NOT a big game coach. He goes a little bonkers, and tries desperation plays that defy logic. Even if they work, they are still bad plays. Making a one in a million shot doesn’t mean you should always take a one in a million shot.
I could discuss a lot of the questions around the game, but it all boils down to the fact that Frank Beamer chokes in big games. Having a fake punt even as an option when the D has been stellar all night and you can pin the opponent deep in their territory? That’s a desperation call in an unnecessary effort to be creative. We could go on, but it’s pointless.
Frank will sniff and stammer around and continue the same pattern as long as he remains the head coach. A reminder for folks – he has already said he plans on coaching ‘well past the end of his contract’ in 2016. Isn’t it about time for him to tell us all how ‘we were three plays away from winning the thing’?
You forgot about the horrible play calling by our coaches at the end of regulation. We drive the length of the field by throwing and then get inside the 20 and decide to run the ball. Seemed like we were playing for overtime instead of the win. Mr. Steinspring should have been put on the Greyhound after the game to give him some time to figure out where he will be coaching next year because it shouldn’t be in Blacksburg. As for the bad fake punt call, that goes on Beamer. He is the head coach and had the ultimate decision on what to do in that situation. Minor league play calling lost us the game!!!
Lots of quality stats, quotes, and perspective Andy. Thanks for the great effort in your initial season. The aftermath of this game should provide some very interesting perspective in the coming weeks.
Beamer Bawling? He should be after the punt mistake call and after the terrible call changing the touchdown.
It seems that Beamer can not and probably will not ever win an important game that would really boost the program to the next level, especially when the game is on national television.
I think this summed it up pretty well. Overall the team played a great game that was lost on a few individual mistakes. You forgot David Wilson ran backwards 25 yards on 1st and goat at the 5. This game felt exactly like the Boise State game at Fed Ex field in 2010. We have had special teams blunders in big games for several years. Ala-fumbled punt, Boise-blocked punt, Mich-roughing the kicker. I only fault the coaches for the fake punt, we should have gone for it with offense or punted.
We got out-coached. Again. Happens every year in these bowl games. I honestly believe that Beamer has taken us as far as he can take us. We’re a middle of the road team that gets 10 wins every year because of a slack schedule, but can’t win a big game (regular season or bowl.) I’d say that last night’s game makes me sick, but after all these years I’ve come to expect this outome.
It was a good game. Hard fought battle between two teams. Unfortunately, Michigan won.
I have to say Tech missed several opportunities. One instance is a certain 4th and 1 where the center didn’t snap the ball while Michigan was scrambling the players into position. That was a lost opportunity there. Then the fake punt, while a bold gamble, ultimately backfired on them. The two special team gaffes didn’t help at all.
I have to tip my cap to Meyer, who missed 2 field goal tries, nailed 3 straight. If nothing else, it shows he isn’t just a kickoff specialist, he can be a good place-kicker. He probably wowed some NFL scouts if they were at the game.
Bitter end for Coale and Boykins, but they shouldn’t be faulted at all. They are legends now. I wish them all the best in their future.
One really bright spot was the defense. I am stoked to think what Bud Foster is going to be able to do with this young group of guys next year. They were young and good this year even with all the injuries and there were only a handful of seniors. They should be beasts next year.
Logan is the real deal, David is the real deal (hope he stays). Will need to have guys step up on the offensive line as we lose a lot to graduation and need to have guys step up at reciever.
Tech outplayed Michigan the whole game. It came donw to a stupid
call by the coach to run the ball on 4th down that gave Mich
an opportuntiy to score.
It was a terrible call by Tech’s coach to run the ball on
4th down in the 4th quarter. It gave Mich an opportunity
to score points. The coach lost the game
The referee said that Coale ‘failed to maintain control of the ball throughout the catch’ or something like that in explaining the overturned TD…which was total BS, like a lot of last night’s calls! That’s why the rule says there has to be INDISPUTABLE evidence to overturn a call; it’s not possible to look at that play and say he did or didn’t catch the ball and was or wasn’t inbounds, so you go with the call on the field.
A very bitter pill thismorning. Itjust killed me to watch us push Michigan all over the field and then to lose. Those last 49 seconds of the first half were as unlucky as anything I have ever seen. No one was more surprised at the Michigan TD than the guy who caught the ball. Just a real shame that the best team did not win.
I agree with Coach that the effort was there and the preparation was there. I hope they can get past the disapointment and realize that there is plenty to build on. On the whole I have no complaints with us.
Go Hokies!!!!
Go Blue!
Coaching decisions, play calling, and officiating, once again cost Tech a big game. The Hokies were clearly the superior team.
Why is it that Beamer always has to go for a block when special teams have been anything but all year ? Going back to the Boise St game last year, how many roughing the kicker penalties do we now have ? Forget the “rugby” kick bs. Buck stops with the head coach there should’ve been no decision not to kick and pin them deep when the D was playing great all night ? These are inexplicable to me and make me! O Line “Zone” blocking sucks, they have no push and no demeanor. Newsome needs to go, and reality is Beamer is not a big game coach, never has been. I feel sorry for the kids that played their hearts out. Bud and the D staff can take the charter back. Hey Frank, how about you and the Offensive Coaching Dunces get dropped off at the Greyhound Terminal on the way out of the Big Easy. Unfriggin Believable….
BEAMER AND THE PLAY CALLING AND THE OFFICIALS COST TECH THIS GAME. THE DEFENSE PLAYED LIGHTS OUT. COALE’S CATCH WAS A TOUCHDOWN WITHOUT A DOUBT AND THE OFFICIALS JUST ROBBED US ON THAT ONE.
JOHN WRIGHT
AMHERST, VA.
To start out, kudos to Myers, a great job in difficult circumstances. Bud Fosters game plan and scheme were spot on, they did their job. Beamerball is a myth, he needs to relinquish his special teams gig and concentrate on the big picture. Now to the offensive play calling, 8 times in the red zone and one TD. Mich. had nine people in the box, no pass rush and a secondary that couldn’t cover an elephant in a phone booth and we’re running the ball up the gut. Only a couple of times did we air it out. Play calling was horrible. We need to find a good, young OC at a Div. IAA school and bring him in. Stinespring and O’Cain do not adjust well on the fly. We need new blood. Different set of officials, maybe different calls on replay. I saw catches that were more suspect during the weekend that were upheld. As for Wilson going pro, his stock fell last night. Doesn’t catch the ball well out of the backfield downfield, not patient enough to follow his blocking, outruns it. Ans that rec league attempt showed his immaturity as a runner. He may go but he needs another year. That’s it in a nutshell.
Just say it people, the coaching decisions by tech were atrocious. Continually running up the middle for little or nothing, when Michigan proved over & over they couldn’t stop the pass or the sweep? Going for a 4th & 2 inside the 10 yard line instead of kicking for 3 (which could have ended the game in regulation btw)? Fake punt at midfield? The team played a GREAT GAME, the coaches should apologize to the team and all Hokie fans for the pitiful decision making and play calling that lost this game. The team didn’t lose, the coaching staff did.
As a UM alumnus, I obviously am happy with the game’s outcome. However, I am disappointed at what an unusual game this was, especially because the selection of both VT and UM had been questioned by many, and both teams were indicted as not being “Sugar Bowl worthy.” Neither team played particularly well to dispell that line of thinking, In the end, a win is a win, and UM fans are happy the 2012 Sugar Bowl was as a sweet one.
That was a heartbreaking loss. But hats off to the Hokies who came ready to play and just fell short.
Someone mentioned this, for perspective. Frank beamer has been the head coach at VT longer than Danny Coale has been alive. Yet he claims he decided to let Coale decide whether to punt or to attempt a fake? That’s like a parent letting a 5 yr old decide when they go to bed.
The mere fact that Beamer instructed Coale that he ‘could’ try a fake punt is disturbing. Why? Foster’s D has totally shut down Michigan all night long. Why not punt, the way any calm rational person would do, and let Foster’s D shut them down three more plays?
Folks aren’t even talking about Beamer’s decision to go for it on 4th & 11, I suppose because he made it. It was still a needlessly risky move.
That seems to be what Beamer does – take needlessly risky moves in a desperate attempt to win a game he’s already winning. It’s like his mind says – ‘NOBODY would expect me to go for it on 4th down here, so I’ll do it! That will be SO tricky!’ What he doesn’t realize is no one expects him to go for it because only a fool would go for it, and they don’t think he’s a fool. Then he goes for it.
We were in the red zone 5 times and got one touchdown against an average and over rated team. People, this isn’t about the officials. Until we make some fundamental organizational changes, this is about as good as it will get for us.
Here’s a rant – David Wilson’s entire VaTech career has passed without the coaching staff ever trying to use him as a target for screen passes, passes to the flats, etc. where his speed could be utilized. The guy is lightning quick! they replayed one play where he went right, was shut down, went left, then went ZIP!!! straight up the field for 8 yards in about 1/10 of a second. Slight exaggeration, but in slow mo, he still looked astonishingly quick. I just sat there thinking – ‘Have they ever, EVER thrown him a screen pass in the flats?’
I know Wilson has been given the traditional telegraphed handoff 7 yards deep in the backfield and run into the back of the center dozens of times. But why was he never used on toss sweeps? Those screen passes? Lined up as a slotback and run the reverse? Ever?
The guy can catch a jackrabbit in an open field, and Beamer runs him between the tackles. Think about it…
Regarding the catch/no catch. It looks like the player is bobbeling the ball when he comes down and secures the ball upon hitting the ground. The one thing nobody wants to talk about is that when the player and ball hit the ground they are out of bounds.He dosn’t have control of the ball until the ball hits the ground out of bounds.
“It seems that Beamer can not and probably will not ever win an important game that would really boost the program to the next level”
As a fan who started following the Hokies as a freshman at Virginia Tech in 1987, the statement that Beamer can’t take the program to the next level is beyond stupid. When Beamer started at Tech, the Hokies weren’t even a blip on the college football radar. Since, we’ve won lots of big games and moved to the Big East, the ACC, and are now a consistent top 20 team.
Last night’s loss was rough. But Virginia Tech came ready to play and for the most part, played well enough to win. The “well never get to the next level” is just a pathetic childish rant, waaahh, waaaah.
This game ended up being decided by the kicker deciding to rob a house. If he didn’t do that, he could have been there to kick that last 37-yarder. Thug Life didn’t pay off for Tech this time.
Chalk one up for the zebras. Yes, we had some bone-head decisions. Yes, Frank Beamer wishes he could have ‘changed some things’. But I was there. This game was an inside job. No reviews on any UM plays. All VT calls, overturned. You all watched. I could go on and on about D. Wilson’s knee, the Hosley interception, the false-step by their kicker, Coale’s catch…aye, aye, aye. Plain and simple: Tech didnt loose to Michigan, we lost because of the agenda by the men in white and black. This crew gave the game to the visiting squad. Terrible.
Kudos to Foster’s defense, they did an excellent job all night and kept us in the game. Thomas did a great job overall (bad interception) and I hope that Wilson decides to return, he has great talent and next year could be special for him.
Beamer cost us this game with poor coaching decisions and bad special teams play. He has gotten the program to this point and has been well rewarded and recognized for it. Unless he is prepared to bring in a special team coach (he clearly has lost the “magic”) and change out his offensive coaching staff we will never get beyond where we are, which is a strong player in a largely lousy conference. If we were in the SEC we would be Vanderbilt. I wonder, if after a couple more of these, we will still keep our reputation as a good traveling fan base?
I have been saying it for 10 years and I will say it again. We need a new big name OC. With the defense we have coming back it is going to be a shame that they don’t make it to the National Championship game. But you watch our OC make bad play calls and we lose a couple of close games because Frank Beamer won’t fire his buddies!!!!!!!!! It is time for change and I mean 10 years ago. Enough is enough. We should have won last night by 14 points but poor coaching robbed our great players that played with heart and deserve better!!!!!!!!!!!
757 philosopher got it right….the offense and the stupid coaching calls again cost Tech….Wilson running left with no blockers is dull and dumb..
Thanks guys……….you played your hearts out!
Coale caught the TD pass. He has control of the football, then his elbow hits the ground, then he roles. That should have been a TD. The ref made the subjective call though that Coale didn’t have control. Earlier in the game where they call Hosley’s first interception an incomplete pass, the ref was right that he was bobbling the ball as he hit the ground. But Coale has control of the ball all throughout the catch.
Instant replay now adds an interesting element to the game. 10 years ago, the ref would have made the call on the field. Now, you’ve refs reviewing palys with high def video and perfect camara angles. The ability now through replay to see a player tugging on a jersey, or to see fractions of space between a knee or ball and the turf really changes the game.
That fake punt by Beamer was AWFUL! Cost them the game! Michigan couldn’t move the ball on our D… If he had punted like he should’ve instead of being cute, we would’ve gotten the ball back and gotten in position for the winning kick, no doubt.
However, not shocked we lost b/c it’s VT and it’s what we do in BCS games…
Michigan was so bad and sloooooow it was pathetic… This was a bad loss for Beamer, and he knows it. This is a BCS game they really should’ve won. Everyone knew they had no shot last year against Stanford, but this was basically a very average Michigan team that looked like it was playing in quick sand.
Let’s just put this one behind us, and move on. So, how’s the weather your way?
“KEN”!!!!…………..DO ME A FAVOR, OKAY!!!………WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!!!
EVERY STINKIN’ YEAR!! – We are subjected to the same old rhetoric of how great this year’s Tech team will be! – They then rise in the polls by FEASTING on questionable non-conference opponents, (especially this year), and then their MAROON & GOLD precious balloon POPS!. – Couple that with the fact that they play in the pathetically WEAK ACC!!….
VA TECH’S atheletic director schedules “CREAM PUFF” MARSHMALLOWS every year just to pad their win column – In return, based on the idiots, who vote in te AP and COACHES poll and never actually view a single Tech game, vote the “GOBBLERS” high in the polls based on things like this year’s deceptive “4-0″ start AND it looks like Tech is ready for a national title run!!!……….Until they play someone of substance like Clemson this year, who took care of the Hokies in the fifth game this season very handily on Tech’s home turf (20-3) and plastered them in the ACC champtionship game 38-10……….
This “deception” by the weak scheduling and polls, makes fans and players think that they are better than what REALITY dictates…………..And over-and-over, every year, the Hokies FLOP when it really counts!!!…………..Yet, the “DOAKIES” cry and whimper about wanting NATIONAL recognition and RESPECT!!???………GIVE ME A BREAK!……….ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!
KEN, BABY!!…MY DILLUSIONAL FRIEND!……….HERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE!!…….Va Tech is 1-5 in BCS Bowls, with their lone win coming two years ago against “CINCINNATI” – from that “POWERHOUSE” (ha,ha) of a conference – the BIG LEAST!……..OOPS, SORRY…..”THE BIG EAST.
Even this year, with ll wins, FOUR of those wins came against the likes of “EAST CAROLNA”, “ARKANSAS STATE”, “MARSHALL” and “APPALACHIAN STATE”??????
And let’s not forget the beatdown they took “TWICE” from Clemson, including a 38-10 “ASS-WHIPPING” the ACC Champions – the CLEMSON TIGERS!!!
The answer is simple – JUST WIN! – ESPECIALLY, WHEN IT COUNTS! – WHICH THEY HAVENT DONE!!!
I, for one, am “SICK AND TIRED” of the Hokies being OVERRATED year after year only to falter on the national stage!…………They have NOT been, nor will they EVER be, a NATIONAL power!!
“KEN” BABY! – GET OVER IT!………LAST NIGHT’S GAME WAS A REFLECTION ON THE ENTIRE HOKIE PROGRAM! – ALWAYS “OVERRATED”!!…………THEY LOST, AGAIN, IN FRONT OF A NATIONAL AUDIENCE, IN YET ANOTHER GAME, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO “PUT THEM ON THE MAP”!!
The Hokies atheletic director cannot keep padding Va Tech’s schedule every year tryng to get EASY wins to boost them in the polls every year and then FLOP later when it counts, STOP playing marshmallows to make it look like you are better than what reality dictates!……………..
If I could use ONE WORD that would has become consistant and recurring theme with VA TECH FOOTBALL, that word would be consistantly – “OVERRATED”!!!
As an impartial observer- VT outplayed Michigan all night except for a few key plays. They made the blunders that allowed UM to be in game and ultimately win. Kudos to VT fans for not whining too much about officiating. The Coale call was tough but UM would have still had chance to send it to second OT even if it was upheld. The Hosley call was tough but refs called same foul against UM setting up lone VT TD. Ultimately there is no way that the coaching staff should have let the game come down to a key ref call here or there. Kick the FG, punt the ball, and win the game lunchpail style. No way UM was coming back from 2 scores down and no way they were driving the field in 4th Q. Put it on the coaches.
You Hokies crack me up! Excuse after excuse after excuse! Did you ever think that you got beat because the other team was BETTER than you?
The blind defense of Frank Beamer as the only possible hope for VT football to ever succeed is much more unreasonable. It seems that for some, ANY time any type of criticism of Beamer is made, they flail about as though heresy has just been committed.
Florida managed to succeed after Steve Spurrier left. Ohio State managed to succeed after Woody Hayes left. Michigan managed to succeed after Bo Schembechler left. SoCal managed to succeed after John McKay left. Notre Dame managed to succeed after Ara Parseghian left. I could go on and on to prove how wrong you are for thinking Frank Beamer ‘IS’ VaTech football, but you’d ignore the logic.
Every successful program grows to be larger than one person. Those who think VaTech is only successful because of the saintliness of Fancy Gap Frank obviously think Frank is the program, and not that there is a program once Frank leaves. Pretty dismal view you have of the football program you claim to admire…
I watched on TV and it did appear that the Ref’s had a certain interest in a certain Blue and maize team winning last night. I missed where they said the officiating crew was from and I assume the replay official was also from another conference. Sometimes it is tough to overcome the perception that Tech is the “up and comer” and “how dare they think they are on the same level as a Michigan, Ohio State etc. “it is not theirs to question why, theirs is to do and die.” Alot of the Tech players left it all on the field last night and the coaches let them down.
Beamer does not have the skills set as a coach to win the big games. He has 25 years to win the NC and has failed. Beamer must go and Foster need to be head coach. It has been Foster that is more responsible for their success than Beamer.
Red zone failure has been goingion for 4 plus years and Beamer canlt fix it.
The VT AD needs to step in and demand Beamer’s and Stinney’s resignation. As one poster stated, unlesss there is coaching change, this is the best VT will ever be.
Had enough of choking in the big games.
I said it before, I’ll repeat it – Denard Robinson is a horrible FBS QB. Congrats to him on being on the winning team, but seriously, every single time he passed the ball after the first quarter, I expected an interception. It was like throwing a feather into the air and watching to guess where it would land. The guy is an exciting player, but if I were a Michigan fan, I’d have ulcers after the first game. It’s no wonder they don’t pass much.
What are the two BCS games that the ACC has won? I’m new to the area and just started following the ACC? Has Tech won one before?
Should have won last night. That extra three points from the first quarter where Beamer went for it on 4th down could have been the difference!
Watching the game, you could tell the stereotypes fit. Big Ten football is about power, not as much about speed. Our game plan ignored that for the vast majority of the game, but it was evident from the start.
Just a casual fan of the Sugar Bowl, so I’m impartial and I’ve got to say that in my opinion the refs did everything but engrave the trophy for Michigan. Terrible calls that make a mocery of the BCS. How in the world the officials saw enough to overturn what had been ruled a touchdown on the field in OT is beyond me. I mean, there has to be indisputable evidence to the contrary. The ruling was that the receiver did not maintain posession when he came down with the ball. I’ve watched the replay a dozen times and STILL haven’t seen the ball move. One heck of an effort by Danny Coale, but the worst part of it is that an official’s suspect call determines the outcome of the game and literally robs the VT players of that celebration and the chance to hoist the trophy. I’m sure Frank Beamer would have a lot more to say about the officiating of the game if you asked him in private. Personally I would be embarrased to be a Michigan fan this morning – just don’t see how anyone could celebrate that win. Everyone in the Dome knew the officials blew that call.
With all due respect to coach Beamer, I think he needs to seriously consider turning over the reins of the special teams to someone else. Beamerball has been on the steady decline for over 10 years now. As one of the other posts pointed out, many of our efforts in key games (going as far back as the National Championship against FSU) have been plagued by special teams miscues. Last night was the worst example I have seen of special teams play in my 33 years of following VT football. One cannot reasonably expect that trend is going to change unless we bring in some new blood.
Hoke was playing with a team he didnt recruit. His superior staff has proven all year long that a staff is every bit as important as the talent on the field. He proved it again last night. If this game were played with Hokes talent, Michigan wouldve wiped the floor with VT. Beamers an average coach who got beat by a better coach and Michigan is a “on the verge” Championship team. Championship teams win ugly games. Sorry VT. Keep pushing around inferior ACC teams and losing to better teams in BCS games. Its never gonna change.
On the fake Michigan field goal,
There were all kinds of ineligible lineman downfild on that play, counting the one who ended up catching the ball. Why was that not called?
The player played well, the game plan was good but the penalties and special team efforts is what caused the game. Penalties reflect the players discipline which is developed through coaching. Beamer has lost his edge in special teams coaching and should not coach any more. Beamer is like all the old great coaches, age takes their edge at coaching and they should move on and let some ones else have that opportunity. The schools loyalty for these old coaches tend to run down football programs like Florida state, Penn state and even Notre Dame. The problem with that is once a program loses enough notoriety then it is difficult for that school to redevelop a program. Back to the game the referees need to have more responsibility for their actions. The refs favored Michigan and the replay ref was poor to say the lease. I thanks when a ref make an obvious poor call they need to be held accountable, The replay ref who incorrectly called Danny Coals touchdown catch in OT deliberately through the game for some reason that needs to be investigated. That call was so bad it was obvious. No one can agree with that call and that ref all the time he needed to study the call.
I can sum this up with a few bullet points and one conclusion:
1. Bud came with a great game plan and his boys played lights out. (as usual)
2. Frank spent the entire game looking like he lost his best frind and was about to cry. It seems this has become his normal game face lately. How about a motivting positive demeanor for a change. (We won’t mention the bonehead decisions}
3. The offensive players played a hell of a game considering the offensive leadership and play calling failed them yet again. (another year of tremendous offensive talent squandered)
4. It gave me the sudden urge to watch the movie Groundhog Day. (huh..go figure)
Conclusion: CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE IN BLACKSBURG!
I enjoyed reading all your comments. I think there were a few bad calls by the refs going against both teams. None of you mentioned the bad calls against Michigan. But you’re right, Michigan did not play a very good game but still, they won. If you’re looking for a conspiracy here’s one for you. I’m sure no one in Virginia watched the trophy celebration after the game where the CEO of Allstate mentioned he was a Michigan Man!
xox!!
Tech could have overcome the bad officiating if they had better play calling by the offensive coordinator and by Beamer, the special teams coach.
Red zone choking by the Hokies is the norm and it is because the coaches choke. They seem to have no confidence in themselves or the players once they get to the red zone. I am just guessing since I am not a psychiatrist but something is obviously wrong on this team.
Beamer blows off his bad calls by saying …”it is what it is.” What kind of crap is that? Well coach, we know what it is. It is time for you to say goodbye and gracefully go to your easy chair and let someone else take over the head coaching at VT. I have had this thought for two years so I am not just bitter about the loss. Sure, Frank has done a good job bringing Tech up from the pits where we once were, but if Tech wants to be a legit national power they must make a change because they DO NOT have the coach to do that.
Just wanted to add to the comment above that the player landed out of bounds – sorry, but NO. Replay clearly shows the back of the hand struck the ground inbounds before his momentum carried him out of bounds. But don’t take my word for it. The referees did not rule the pass incomplete because the catch came out of bounds. They ruled a bobble. I don’t see how, but they did. Anybody know what conference those officials were from?
Simple question — How many points do you think the Hokies would have scored last night if our players were coached by Oregon, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Wisconsin, I could do on and on? There is no way half the offensive coaching staffs in the country would not get 30 or 40 points on the board last night with our talent. I’ve said many times that the true measure of a coach is if other teams want to hire him. No team in the all of NCAA is asking permission to interview Stinespring or O’Cain. They would be unemployed if they weren’t friends with Beamer for 20 or 30 years. The next 5 years can’t go by fast enough for me. Follow me on twitter @gtbowyer
Stop blaming the officials, let’s remember:
* 5 trips to the red zone with 1 TD
* fumbled kick off
* roughing the kicker
* INT on a screen deep in your zone
* 4th and 1 fake punt after a TO when you have the best 4th down conversion QB in the BCS.
* 2 FG kickers dismissed for lack of character leaving a 3rd string kicker to make an OT FG on Prime TIme National TV.
When you push a mediocre Michigan team around for 60 minutes and yet lose because of ONE questionable call, it’s nobody else’s fault. This one is on us, and if we want to get better we need to look at our own organization, not others.
I watched one of the kickoff returns by VT last night, and in the replay, I saw four, yes FOUR, ‘blocking in the back’ violations. None were called. I wasn’t looking for it, I was actually looking for the hole created that our player took advantage of, and the violations just jumped out at me. The announcers didn’t notice them, or at least mention them, but they were so obvious as to have our guys riding the Michigan players backs into the ground.
I snickered about our luck and continued watching. Then I saw a later questionable call that went against the Hokies, and I remembered the non-calls made on that one play.
The officials didn’t lose the game for VaTech, and there was no conspiracy to guarantee a Michigan win. Yes, the officials made mistakes, IMO, but they’re human, and Beamer’s game strategy impacted the game far more than any supposed ‘bad call’ did. Every game features a LOT of non-calls, or questionable calls. Get over it. Tech lost the game for other reasons.
Tech fans have become permanently demoralized. The vast majority knows that Beamer must go, and are demoralized because they are powerless. It will show in game attendance and declining willingness to travel for bowl games. Beamer works cheap and is a “company man” & nothing will improve until the ole farts with the big money demand a change. :>)
Reading your reactions to last nights game has been the highlight of my day. It is so similar to the rants and raves after every Detroit Lions and Wolverine loss over the years. (Games we out-played the opponent but still somehow lost)Living in Ann Aror and being a huge Michigan fan, I have to say that Michigan got every good break possible. Denard Robinson is awful. He is almost as hard to watch as Tim Tebow. Poor special teams and coaching cost you the game. I don’t know why VT didn’t throw more on us and run the option/sweep plays more. They were big gainers every time. Not punting was a gift because Michigan would have given the ball right back to you after a 3 and out. To sum it up…I feel your pain.
Before the game, I was worried about Tech’s speed on defense, and rightly so. I did not expect all of Tech’s technical blunders.
All props to the team. They played their hearts out. Frank put us on the map & should stay. But when he decides to go, the guy to replace him is already here, Bud Foster. If Foster isn’t offered the job on the spot after all his loyalty then Weaver should get a brain transplant.
It’s unbelievable how delusional VT fans are. You had no business even being invited to play in that game. You were out-classed by a national powerhouse that had a bad game. It’s a miracle the game was even close. You should be happy with that. Blame the refs, blame the coaches, blame the grass. You had a decent year with a couple very good players, but you’re no Michigan!
xox!!
Brian…I know what you mean about the Lions and Wolverines. I’m a lifelong fan of both, though since I’m a VT alum, I was pulling for the Hokies last night.
Tech blew the game on their own. Bad play calls, mistakes like turnovers and penalties…those are what cost them the game.
And special teams? Can we hire a coach for that? They’re a major liability…and have been for far too long.
A few thoughts:
JAY! SHOUT MORE! BUT, FIRST MAKE SURE YOU ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO THE RIGHT PERSON! I said the fake punt was awful, and just noted that there was no replay of what could have been a vital play, the downing of David Wilson on second and five. And, the string of weird plays at the end of the half, mixed in with poor execution, was memorable, to say the least.
To all Michigan fans, read the national press, not just this board. You were outgained 2-1. You won the game, but don’t try to tell me that the “better” team won.
Complaining about play calling on the final drive is hindsight. Next time don’t false start on 3rd and 2, and see how that running thing works. Passing gets harder when the gaps shrink.
Let a team hang around, and stuff like this happens. This is the most disheartening loss for Hokie fans in the past seven years.
Beamer doesn’t ‘work cheap’ – he makes $2.4+ mil a year, and as for his being a ‘company man’ you forget when he wanted to bolt with his entire staff to UNC at the end of the Michael Vick era, only to have his staff refuse. If he’d been successful, he’d have crippled his alma mater’s football program for a decade, probably. So much for love of school…
I’m not calling for Beamer’s dismissal. What I’m calling for is the acknowledgement that more than one coach can succeed at a university. Frank Beamer, and Frank Beamer’s close circle of trust, is not the only answer to success at VT. Almost no Hokies want to acknowledge that, but it has been proven true at every other successful program in the nation.
Fancy Gap Frank isn’t perfect, despite what many defenders on here proclaim. It IS time he was no longer treated as though he is the only coach ever in the history or future of the world that could succeed at VaTech. Saint Francis of Fancy Gap is not perfect, despite what he & his sycophants would tell you. He blew the game last night, and his proven history is that he will blow almost every big time game outside his conference. He freaks out, or something, and he blows it. It happens, folks. It happens to Frank Beamer.
This was, overall, one of the best games I’ve seen VT play in a long time. The offense and defense played their hearts out. Justin Myers did a great job filling in for his two teammates who made their own decisions prior to the game. Great job, Justin! Special teams? Not what they used to be, to say the least. Beamer’s fake punt call was THE worst!!
No need to play the blame game. This was a heart-breaking loss, especially for the players and seniors in particular.
Kudos to Logan and Danny and all the other players for your energy and hard work. Win or lose, hard work and giving everything you have will always be most important. We’re very proud of you for the strong effort you made! You truly DID belong in this bowl game. Thank you for a great game! Defense: You were awesome!
Go Hokies!!
As a Michigan fan for 40+ years, I readily acknowledge that VT in large part played superior football to UM in that game. The officials, however, did not lose the game for VT, it was lost due to mistakes by VT. It was nice for luck to go the way of UM for a change. It certainly was not as satisfying a win as a convincing, controlling win would have been, but it is something for Brady Hoke to build on.
As for those of you trashing Frank Beamer, get over yourself. You have had a coach take you from oblivion to a regular top-20 program, who, by most accounts is a decent man, and has perspective. If he had wanted to come to Michigan four years ago when Lloyd Carr retired, we would have taken him in a heartbeat.
Unfortunately Frank Beamer is destined to follow in the foolish footsteps of two other coaches who “stayed too long” … Bowden and Paterno. It ain’t the money … it’s stupid ego. Frank needs to call it quits and enjoy his retirement.
As a Fan of all Big Ten schools and even my instate rival..I’ll tell you Hokies something. You outplayed Michigan cant argue that. The TD called back its a drag But Ill call it the right call. Where you guys lost the game was in the Red Zone from 20 to 20 no problem, but the Michigan D stiffened and well..thats the game.
Late Xmas wishes:
1. Frank,OK to stay as head coach….PLEASE find the $$ and hire a smart, young special teams coach. Numerous Tech losses are triggered by a dumb special teams penalty/mistake.
2. Hire an offensive coordinator that has the guts and aggressiveness to use the passing game to set up the run. We don’t have to be the Ducks or Okie State, but PLEASE move on from a 1950′s style offensive strategy. This hire must commit to exploiting the area that we have an advantage…..see Michigan’s corners vs. our wideouts. Beamer has held down more NFL wideouts in his scheme than Dean Smith did to MJ.
3. I am a true fan, and commend the team for playing with such heart and desire. However, Bud Foster will be looking elsewhere unless the above changes are made……and Tech will never progress past losing in every bowl game that we do not physically overpower an opponent……..and even then (ie vs Michigan)we can lose.
I will say this there havent been many to suceed at vatech in my 70 years
It comes down to one stupid call…not going for the FG on 4th-and-1 early in the game with a 6-0 lead. Everything else is irrelevant. They got stuffed on arun play, swing momentum back to a dead Michigan offense. Always take your points early with a lead.
First off , I am a UVA fan. Secondly I watched as a superior Football Team Va Tech lost a game it should have won. But football is all about execution at critical points throughout the game. Michigan did execute when it was critical, Va Tech did not , such as the missed field goal. With a guy like Logan Thomas coming back as a SOPHOMORE next season Va Tech will be better again this I am certain. But to all of you Tech fans that always want somebody’s head ( REMEMBER STINESPRING) to fall. BE PROUD OF YOUR TEAM AND STOP YOUR WHINING!!
A few ideas for you about “Fieldgoal Frank,” the only man in Division I-A that would sit on a 3-0 lead in the first quarter by attempting to run the clock out for 3 more quarters. For those saying “Beamer is not the playcaller,” there are a couple of things to keep in mind: 1) most coaches go out and hire someone who has a like-minded view of and concept of offense. Frank would never go out and hire a Mike Leach or Chip Kelly type OC because he doesn’t believe in it. He preferes to run our high school type offense. So when you say he doesn’t call the plays, he might as well be, because the guy in the booth was brought in by him. A conservative game plan, especially inside the 20, comes straight from both of them. 2) Head coaches are part of the game planning, the watching of film, the scripting of plays, etc. Don’t believe for a second he didn’t have an idea of what was being called on every play. Field goals when you are giving up touchdowns don’t very often win you games. 3) This has been the case throughout his entire tenure at Tech. Anyone remember Ricky Bustle and his awful play calling? Anyone else remember wanting him gone and saying next year will be different when we finally heard he was moving on? I do! But what happened? New OC, same ole conservative offensive mindset. I’m not going to go so far as call for Coach’s firing, I very rarely do that with anyone. What I would expect to happen is for him to look at his record in bowls, especially in BCS bowls and say what is the common denominator? Me! If he doesn’t have the heart to give his players and his alma mater the best by hiring the right people, he should step away on his own.
Frank Beamer’s time has come and gone. Not sure how you get him out, but mark my word……… As long as Frank Beamer is around, we will not win the big games! I’m a little sick of it. Yea, we usually play good games, but in the end, we have fewer points than the top rated teams. Maybe Tech never gets to the top, but it never will happen with Frank Beamer being the leader. Our players and fans deserve better. This is not a personal attack on Beamer. He’s a nice guy, just not a top notch coach.
Frank Beamer’s first year as coach was my during my senior year at VT. The football team has come a long way since the day I was a student sitting in the stands. Back then, Lane Stadium was only filled up when UVA was in town. A lot has changed since then, but for at least the last 5 years, I’ve watched and believed that Frank has taken the team as far as he can. For years now, I’ve watched the defense carry the team and keep them in games, while every year the offense has stellar players, but ends up being very mediocre due to the play calling. Obviously somebody high up has decided they are happy with the net income that the football team is bringing in and no coaching changes are needed, but sooner or later, the fans are going to voice their disapproval by stopping going to games. Maybe they figure that that day is still a long way off since they still fill up the stands at home, but people obviously are not happy.
I read an article on Hokiesports.com and Frank made a comment about fans wanting to not only get to a game but also win it. Well, no duh….People spend a lot of money to go to these games, and expect the coaches prepare the players and make the best decisions to win the game. Especially with the price of bowl game tickets. I live in Baton Rouge, LA, and went to the game, so I only had to drive 70 miles each way, and still, I was hesitant to go because I’ve seen so many games where we got blown out. But we got some tickets and went. So, the outcome was not unexpected, but was still disappointing because Michigan’s offense was inept, but our offensive play calling was even worse. We kept trying to run David Wilson, when he was shutdown all night. It seemed like Danny Coale, David Wilson, and Logan Thomas were the only people that touched the ball all night. But again, it’s been like this for years, and the other team can figure out what you are going to do, and if their defense is any good, they shut you down. So Frank, you need to clean house on your offensive coaching staff, or else the recruits will start going elsewhere and so will the fans.